Abstract: A vented soffit panel and related method for buildings and the like includes a generally flat imperforate base portion shaped to enclose at least a portion of the building soffit when mounted in a generally horizontal orientation under an eave. At least one vent channel protrudes upwardly from the base portion, and has a generally trapezoidal shape defined by a horizontal imperforate top wall and inclined perforate sidewalls with lower ends that connect with the base portion in a spaced apart relationship to define a slot through which air flows to vent the eave. The perforate sidewalls are disposed at an acute angle, such that they are hidden from view from a position underneath the eave.

Abstract: Disclosed is a flashing for weatherproofing an aperture made in an inclined roof to allow passage of a vertical member such as chimney through the inclined roof. This flashing has a base member adapted to be mounted over the aperture and a surrounding member that is tubular in shape and extends upwardly from the base member to fit around the vertical member. The base member comprises a covering panel of quadrilateral shape having a top edge adapted to be positioned on an upper part of the inclined roof, a bottom edge adapted to be positioned on a lower part of the inclined roof, two opposite side edges and an opening large enough to allow passage of the vertical member therethrough. A bottom side wall projects downwardly from the bottom edge of the covering panel and two lateral side walls respectively extend downwardly from the opposite side edges of the covering panel and sidewardly from the bottom side wall in a tapering fashion.

Abstract: An insulative, lightweight building panel is provided with a lightweight, insulative foam core and which includes one or more carbon fiber or steel reinforcements and an exterior concrete face which are manufactured in a controlled environment and can be easily transported and erected at a building site.

Abstract: A floor composed of a plurality of modular elements comprises a first subassembly consisting of a base component and a first intermediate element and a second subassembly consisting of a second intermediate element and a top component forming a point elastic floor. The two subassemblies are secured together by connecting means with an angular orientation offset such as to define the contact surfaces and allow assembly by interlocking. The intermediate elements are disposed with a median honeycomb structure sandwiched between two stiffening plates of the same format and dimension. The plates are of nonwoven material and have reinforcement and stiffening disposed in a canvass of warp and weft threads.

Abstract: An electrical box for use with insulated concrete form building systems includes a main body having an electrical box cavity for housing electrical outlets, switches, and electrical connections. The insulated concrete form building systems utilize insulated forms to form concrete and the insulated forms are left in place after the concrete has been poured thereby creating an overall insulated concrete element that includes the concrete and the insulated forms. In accordance with the method and the arrangement of the invention, the electrical box includes an arrangement for attaching the electrical box to the insulated form without requiring the use of any additional fasteners.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a system of interconnecting notched composite articles so as to create a surface therefrom. A joint segment having an edge configured to be received into a plurality of notches within juxtaposed composite articles and a fastener engaging the joint segment so as to anchor the joint segment to a support system underlying the joint segment interconnects the composite articles. Further disclosed is a method of installing composite articles involving fastening a first joint segment having opposing edges to a structural support system, aligning a composite article having a first notch on at least a portion of a first surface of the composite article and a second notch on a second surface of the composite article such that the first joint segment edge is received into the first notch, and fastening a second joint segment having edges to the structural support system such that the second joint segment edges engages the second notch on the second surface of the composite article.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for eliminating ice formation at roof edging comprising a mesh casing and salt-based fill material. The apparatus may be placed into a typical gutter assembly adjacent a roof edge. The casing is flexible and biodegradable and comprises a salt-retaining surface, a matter-engaging surface, and a plurality of mesh apertures. The mesh apertures each comprise a maximal aperture dimension. The fill material comprises a plurality of salt pellets, each pellet comprising a minimal pellet dimension. The minimal pellet dimension is greater in magnitude than the maximal aperture dimension and thus the fill material is retained by the salt-retaining surface. A portion of the fill material dissolves in water when water contacts the fill material thus forming a flowable solution. The solution inherently has a depressed freezing point for preventing ice formation. Thus, the water-based solution flowing from the apparatus functions to eliminate ice at roof edging.